Elimination bed pad



June 28, 1955 E. c. STEWARD 2,711,543

ELIMINATION BED PAD' Filed Aug. 3, 1954 INVENTOR 57'HE'R C STEM/4R0 pad:

United States Patent ELIMINATION BED PAD Esther C. Steward, La Quinta, Calif.

Application August 3, 1954, Serial No. 447,603

2 Claims. (Cl. 4--112) This invention relates to a bed pad, and more par-- ticularly to a bed pad of the type having means for receiving and discharging body secretions into a suitable receptacle.

An object of the present invention is to provide a bed pad which lends itself for ready adaption to a mattress and which may be maintained in a sanitary condition for long periods of use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bed pad which is durable, light in weight, and commercially feasible.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a bed pad which is simple in structure, and highly efficient in use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a plan view of the bed pad of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an exploded bottom perspective view of the bed pad of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral designates the frame which is fabricated wholly of a rigid, non-absorbent and washable material, such as non-cellular rubber, plastic, and the like. The frame includes an apron 11 which is of substantially fiat form, a shallow open well 12, arranged longitudinally of the apron intermediate the frorrt and back end edges and the side edges thereof and depending from the apron, a drain tube 13 extending from t e bottom of the well, and a skirt 14 extending about he aforesaid edges and forming with the well 12 and thle adjacent portion of the apron 11 a space.

front end edge 15 of the apron 11 is straight, while the back The nd edge 16 is rounded, with the sides 17 and 13 being, lso straight. As shown in Figure 3, a pair of ribs 19 and 20, arranged in converging spaced relation, depend of the well 12, and the adjacent portion of the apron 1).

form a space in which is interposed a foundation block 22 fabricated wholly of a cellular resilient material, such as foam or sponge rubber, sponge plastic, and the like,

such foundation block providing ventilation for the pad when a persons body is resting upon the apron of the Projecting from the upper surface of the apron 11 intermediate the rear end edge 16 and the well 12 is a 2,711,543 Patented June 28, 1955 ice ridge 24 having inclined sides 25, the ridge being adapted to conformably seat against the person's back in the region of the base of the spine and from a supporting surface for the buttocks of the person.

To employ the pad of the present invention, it is placed on the surface of a mattress with the drain tube 13 extending therethrough and the foundation block 22 lying substantially flush with the upper surface of the mattress. The apron 11 underlies the legs and buttocks of the patient with the ridge 24 extending under the back in the region of the base of the spine and conformably fits thereagainst. Excretions from the body of the patient are received in the well 12 and are discharged through the tube 13 into a vessel positioned beneath the bed. The foundation block 22 permits circulation of air under the apron to eliminate perspiration and other discomforts of the patient.

It is to be noted that the tube 13 is provided with a flap valve 13:: extending tranversely thereacross, the weight of the excretions causing the valve to swing downwardly and permit the excretions to pass through the tube and upon release of such weight the valve returning to its position of extending transversely across the tube.

The bed pad of the present invention can be washed repeatedly without suffering deterioration, and hence, can be maintained in a sanitary condition while in use.

Having thus described the invention what is new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A bed pad comprising a frame fabricated wholly of a rigid non-absorbent and washable material, said frame including an apron of substantially flat form constituting the entire top thereof, a shallow open well arranged longitudinally of said apron intermediate the front and back end edges and side edges thereof and depending from said apron, a drain tube extending from the bottom of said well, and a skirt extending about the aforesaid edges of said apron, substantially surrounding the space between said Well and said skirt, and a foundation block fabricated wholly of a cellular resilient material interposed in said space and secured to said apron, said well, and the adjacent portion of said apron.

2. A bed pad comprising a frame fabricated wholly of a rigid non-absorbent and washable material, said frame including an apron of substantially flat form constituting the entire top thereof, a shallow open well arranged longitudinally of said apron intermediate the front and back end edges and side edges thereof and depending from said apron, a drain tube extending from the bottom of said well, a pair of ribs arranged in converging spaced relation depending from the under face of said apron and extending longitudinally inwardly from the back end edge of said apron, the converging ends of said ribs being secured to the wall of the well, and a skirt extending about the front end edge and the side edges of said apron and having its ends attached to the diverging ends of said ribs. said skirt and said ribs substantially surrounding the space between said well and said skirt, and a foundation block fabricated Wholly of a cellular resilient material interposed in said space and secured to said apron, said well, said ribs, and the adjacent portion of said apron.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,085,549 Cunning Jan. 27, 1914 1,156,172 Poindexter Oct. 12, 1915 2,195,156 Steward Mar. 26, 1940 

